It is interesting that in Europe, Jews could never be charged with “witchcraft ” since that crime was part of the law of heresey, and one had to be Christian to be guilty (in our terms, it was “Avodah zarah”, worshipping a false power other than the Christian religion, was for similar to treason for a Christian (Jews, having no legal duty to be good Christians, were “patur”).

I’ve heard (don’t remember where) that the forces of good and evil have to balance out, so just as our generations are inferior to those before, so the level of possible evil has gone down, and there is nobody around any more who has the power to do serious witchcraft. Same with dybbuks.

Ayin ha’ra might be another matter, since envy certainly seems to find a place in the modern world. Maybe, since the Three Weeks are coming soon, we should make an effort to separate ourselves from any envy we might feel.

Time for Truth: I don’t know why you’d assume that MO would believe or disbelieve something.

A Rebbe of mine (who is a well-known Rav in Brooklyn) once told us about something which may be kishuf or just another type of a koach hatumah. He was speaking about all the “mekubalim” who exist, especially in Eretz Yisrael. He claimed that most of them are not legitimate, and should not be trusted. He said how R’ Chaim Kanievsky, whenever he gives someone advice on a matter, will quote a Gemara or other source to back up what he says. He contrasted it with mekubalim who seem to know things, but don’t have a Torah based source for it – and also ask for large sums of money before they’ll help someone. A student asked, “But how do they know these things if they’re not legitimate? Doesn’t it come from the Torah?” The Rebbe replied, “True, the knowledge can come from the Torah. But the Torah also tells us that there are other means of obtaining supernatural abilities, such as witchcraft and other dark methods. They are forbidden. Many of the so-called mekubalim are likely utilizing these methods.”

DaMoshe- Not that I’m disagreeing with your point, but there are mekoros in Kabbalah for taking money.

For an insight into what your Rav said, see the book Faith and Folly by R Yakov Hillel where he details how people who think they’re holy and have some sort of koach are really accessing the kochos hatumah.